1) New Orleans Saints (11-2) Last Week Ranking: 2Last Game: beat Tampa Bay 28-14Next Game: at Carolina (MNF)The Saints win their second straight division title for the first time in team history thanks in part to backup QB/utility knife Taysom Hill and this momentum changing punt block.

3) Los Angeles Chargers (10-3)Last Week Ranking: 3Last Game: beat Cincinnati 26-21 Next Game: at Kansas City (TNF)With the offense misfiring and the defense giving up 144 yards on the ground, it was up to the Chargers special teams to be the difference. Michael Badgley went 4-4 on field goals including a team record 59 yarder at end of the half and the game clinching score.

6) New England Patriots (9-4)Last Week Ranking: 5 Last Game: lost to Miami 34-33Next Game: at PittsburghMiami has been a house of horrors for New England in the Brady/Belichick era. And the weirdness started early. Stephen Gostkowski missed his first extra point of the season. Later, he missed his fifth FG attempt of the year.

Entering Sunday’s game, Brady was 7-9 on the road against the Dolphins and has thrown 15 interceptions. And while he had a great game (27 of 43 for 358 yards and three touchdowns, zero turnovers,) he gave allowed a sack at the end of the first half when they were out of timeouts. That decision cost the Patriots a chance at three points.

The biggest stunner of the day belongs to Belichick. Why would he keep 10 defenders and Rob Gronkowski near the goal line when Miami needs 75 yards?

“Every time we practice it it’s for a Hail Mary,” Gronkowski told Boston.com. “But you’ve just got to be ready for anything.”

A Hail Mary? With Ryan Tannehill throwing? No offense, but he’s not exactly John Elway or Patrick Mahomes back there. Even if Miami throws a quick pass and gets out of bounds, it’s still 50-60 yards to the end zone. Maybe you put Gronk in then. But with 75 yards to go, the Patriots should have had all eleven defenders. Their best one, safety Devin McCourty, was not on the field for the final play.

The only thing more improbable than the final play was seeing Bill Belichick outsmart himself. His decision cost New England a victory.

So I guess that means the Patriots are gonna tear it up from here on out, doesn’t it?

7) Seattle Seahawks (8-5)Last Week Ranking: 7Last Game: beat Minnesota 21-7Next Game: at San FranciscoBobby Wagner’s 100th career game is one for the scrapbook. He played every down on defense, lead the team in tackles (9) and blocked a Minnesota field goal attempt.

8) Houston Texans (9-4)Last Week Ranking: 6Last Game: lost to Indianapolis 24-21Next Game: at N.Y. JetsHouston sees their streak stopped at nine. Moreover, they miss a golden opportunity to secure the second seed in the AFC playoff race. A porous Texan o-line gives up five sacks and seven hits on Deshaun Watson.

9) Dallas Cowboys (8-5)Last Week Ranking: 9Last Game: beat Philadelphia 29-23 in OTNext Game: at IndianapolisThe Cowboys now own the longest current win streak in the NFL with their five straight win. The question isn’t if they can make the playoffs anymore, it’s how far can they go? (Hint, the answer is far, but not far enough.)

10) Indianapolis Colts (7-6)Last Week Ranking: 13Last Game: beat Houston 24-21Next Game: vs. DallasThe red-hot Colts currently own the tie breakers against the Dolphins and Titans in the crowded AFC playoff chase. No matter how the season ends, Frank Reich has done an incredible job with this team.

11) Baltimore Ravens (7-6)Last Week Ranking: 10Last Game: lost to Kansas City 27-24 in OTNext Game: vs. Tampa BayBaltimore had the right game plan against the Chiefs. They ran the ball well (198 yards rushing,) and put pressure on Patrick Mahomes (two sacks, 15 hits, one interception.) But Lamar Jackson showed his limitations and the Ravens are missing a game breaker on offense.

12) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1)Last Week Ranking: 11Last Game: lost to Oakland 24-21Next Game: vs. New EnglandThe Steelers are trending downward at the worst possible time. They’ve lost three straight games and only hold a half game lead on Baltimore. Their last three games are at home against New England, at New Orleans, and hosting Cincinnati.

15) Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)Last Week Ranking: 12Last Game: lost to Dallas 29-23 in OTNext Game: at L.A. RamsThe Eagles’ 2018 season in a single play.16) Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1) Last Week Ranking: 14Last Game: lost to Seattle 21-7Next Game: vs. MiamiWhen the Vikings signed Kirk Cousins in the offseason, many pundits (including myself) thought that was the one thing to put Minnesota over the top. They have a talent laden roster on both sides of the ball and running back Dalvin Cook returning from injury.

But after another pitiful showing, I’m starting to think that maybe Washington was right to let Cousins walk. While his stats have been nice, he leads the league in fumbles and is 1-4 in primetime games this season. When the lights are brightest, Cousins has come up small.

21) Carolina Panthers (6-7)Last Week Ranking: 17Last Game: lost to Cleveland 26-20Next Game: vs. New Orleans (MNF)The Panthers’ fifth straight loss has a familiar ring to them. During this losing streak, Carolina has given up fifteen plays of 20+ yards for 613 yards on those plays.

23) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-9)Last Week Ranking: 20Last Game: lost to New Orleans 28-14Next Game: at BaltimoreAfter taking a 14-3 lead, the Buccaneers turned back into the Yuckaneers with ten penalties, two missed field goals, and a punt block. Let the finger pointing begin.

26) Buffalo Bills (4-9)Last Week Ranking: 24Last Game: lost to N.Y. Jets 27-23Next Game: vs. DetroitThe Bills may have something in rookie QB Josh Allen, but at running back. In the last three games, he’s rushed for 335 yards. During his three years at Wyoming, Allen ran for 767 yards and 12 touchdowns.

27) Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)Last Week Ranking: 29Last Game: lost to L.A. Chargers 26-21Next Game: vs. OaklandIn a season where coaches are gambling and taking chances, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Bengals haven’t converted a two-point conversion since 2015.

28) San Francisco 49ers (3-10)Last Week Ranking: 32Last Game: beat Denver 20-14Next Game: vs. Seattle In this lost season, the 49ers have found themselves a gem in George Kittle. The 2017 5th round pick from Iowa had seven catches for 210 yards and an 85 yard touchdown. He’s on pace to break the NFL single season yardage mark for a tight end.

30) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)Last Week Ranking: 27Last Game: lost to Tennessee 30-9Next Game: vs. WashingtonIt’s been 19 years since the Jags made the playoffs in consecutive seasons. It ain’t happening this season.

32) Arizona Cardinals (3-10)Last Week Ranking: 28Last Game: lost to Detroit 17-3Next Game: at AtlantaThis upcoming draft for the Cardinals has to address their abysmal offense. They are dead last in the NFL averaging a paltry 242.4 yards a game, fifty yards behind the next lowest team (Buffalo, 292.0 ypg)